Ashley Hall

Ashley Hall (school)
Possunt Quae Volunt (Girls who have the will have the ability)
Location
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Coordinates	32°47′13″N 79°56′46″W / 32.787°N 79.946°W / 32.787; -79.946Coordinates: 32°47′13″N 79°56′46″W / 32.787°N 79.946°W / 32.787; -79.946
Information
Type	Private, All Girls' Day School
Founded	1909
Head of School	Jill Swisher Muti
Faculty	72
Grades	Primary2 through 12
Enrollment	650
Campus	urban
Campus size	4.5 acres (1.8 ha)
Color(s)	Purple and White
Mascot	Panther
Yearbook	Spiral
Website	Official Website

Ashley Hall is an all girls' school in Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 1909 by Mary Vardrine McBee, who headed the institution for many years. It is the only girls college-preparatory school in the state. Charleston legend has it that George Trenholm, the original owner of the McBee House, the mansion on the school property, was the man on whom Margaret Mitchell based the character Rhett Butler in her novel, Gone with the Wind.

Up until the 1970s, Ashley Hall was a boarding school, and since then has served as a day school.

The school's motto is Possunt Quae Volunt, or “Girls With the Will Have the Ability.” (This was changed due to a junior AP Latin student's suggestion in 2003; the previous motto was Possunt Qui Volunt, or “Those willing are able.”)

Students

The student body population is 652 students. This number includes students from the age of 2 years old to seniors in high school. Preschool (ages 2–4) is co-educational, and from kindergarten until senior year the school body is all-girls. It is the only all girls school in the state of South Carolina.

Heads of School

• Mary Vardrine McBee (1909–1948)
• William Piper (1949–1954)
• Caroline Pardue (1954–1978)
• Marian Bell Leland (1979–1984)
• Margaret C. MacDonald (1985–2004)
• Jill Swisher Muti (2004–present)[1]

School Publications

Student Publications

• Spiral – School Yearbook
• Acanthus – Upper School Literary Magazine

Development Publications

• Perspectives – official school magazine, distributed to all alumni, families, students and faculty [2]

Athletics

Ashley Hall participates in the South Carolina Independent School Association or SCISA.

Ashley Hall is famed for its excellent Varsity Volleyball and Tennis Teams.

Rivalries exist with Porter-Gaud School and Bishop England High School

Sports Offered

• Fall Sports: Cross Country (ClassAAA State Champions 2010), Golf, Sailing (JV and Varsity), Swimming, Tennis (JV and Varsity), Volleyball (ClassAAA State Champions 2007, 2008, 2009)[3]
• Winter Sports: Basketball (JV and Varsity)
• Spring Sports: Soccer, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis, Equestrian, and Track

Traditions

Big Sister/Little Sister Program 

In the fall, each girl in grades 6-12 is paired with a “little sister” in K-5. Several events during the year highlight this relationship. Other “sister” associations develop: juniors and seniors, seniors and freshmen, and mentors for new students throughout all grades.

Acanthus 

Acanthus is Ashley Hall's literary magazine. For over fifty years it has presented prose, poetry, photography and art contributed by students from all divisions within the school.

Christmas Play 

The Christmas Play, originating from the Nativity cycle of the medieval mystery plays of Chester, England, was first presented in 1924 under the direction of Mary Vardrine McBee, founder of Ashley Hall. Since that time it has been given annually as a Christmas gift to the city. Students, faculty and staff from all school divisions participate in the play.

Fathers' Day 

Since boarding school days, Fathers’ Day has been a spring break tradition at Ashley Hall. Students eagerly awaited their fathers who had come to pick them up for the holiday. As guests of their daughters, fathers would spend the morning on campus enjoying the company of students, other fathers and teachers. Today, Fathers’ Day is a special day of classroom visits and socializing.

Georgie 

Georgie, the friendly ghost, lives in McBee House and is the special friend of all first graders. Each October first grade students develop a correspondence with Georgie and climb to the top of the spiral stairs in hope of seeing their special friend.

Graduation 

Although all members of the Ashley Hall family are invited, the faculty, staff, and all students in grades 9-12 are required to participate in graduation activities. Students must wear pure white dresses and shoes to the baccalaureate service and to graduation. Baccalaureate services are held in a local church, with graduation exercises on the terrace of the campus. Seniors also wear pure white dresses. In addition to her diploma, the school presents each senior a bouquet of red roses and pin that represents the past and future of each girl.

Holiday Giving Program 

This program has been a tradition since 1954 to help remember those in the community less fortunate. Gifts of clothing, toys, or canned goods are presented by each student and faculty member at an assembly before vacation. Local agencies distribute the gifts to families and children in the Lowcountry.

Junior - Senior Activities 

The 11th - 12th grade classes have a special relationship. One significant event is held when seniors kidnap juniors for an afternoon of activities during the fall. The junior-senior luncheon is hosted in the spring by the junior class. It is built around a theme with skits and music. During the weekend the seniors host the prom.

Play Day/Field Day 

Play days, the climax of the sports and team competition, are annual spring afternoons of fun and competition for Intermediate and Upper School. The purple and white teams compete on drill teams, races and land events. Each afternoon ends with an awards ceremony. The Lower School's field day is also held in the spring. The students are divided into cross-grade level groups to compete in outdoor events, followed by a picnic lunch.

The Shell House

Purple and White Teams 

Beginning in grade 6, each student is a member of one team. If a member of the student’s family attended Ashley Hall, she is automatically on that relative’s team. New student team members are chosen by lot. The goal of each team is to encourage good sportsmanship, teamwork, loyalty and friendly competition. A student does not contribute to her team solely through athletics; points are accumulated by participation in academic and extracurricular activities as well. The team cup is awarded at the end of the year to the team with the most points.

Shell House 

Shell House was originally built as an aviary and used as a chemistry lab when the school was established. It is now a retreat for seniors.

Women in Leadership 

The annual Women in Leadership programs highlight women in career fields and community activism. It is an intergenerational activity, open to the entire community. Middle and Upper School students attend the presentations, and family members are encouraged to participate.

Year-end Ceremonies 

In Lower and Intermediate Schools, special recognition is given to 4th and 6th graders during closing assemblies. A reception is given in honor of each class as it moves from one school division to the next. An awards program at the end of the school year recognizes academic and extracurricular achievements of girls in grades 7-12. It is a major activity during graduation weekend and is followed by a reception for seniors.[4]

Notable alumnae

• Madeleine L'Engle (Class of 1936), author [5]
• Barbara Bush (Class of 1943, née Pierce), former First Lady [6]
• Nancy Friday (Class of 1951), author [7]
• Alexandra Ripley, (Class of 1951, née Braid), author [8]
• Harriet McDougal Rigney (Class of 1956, née Popham), editor [9]
• Josephine Humphreys (Class of 1963), author [10]
• D'Anna Fortunato (Class of 1963), mezzo-soprano [11]
• Martha Rivers Ingram, Business leader, philanthropist
• Mena Suvari- actress
• Lisa Sanders (Class of 1973), American physician, medical author, and journalist

External links

• Ashley Hall website
• Article about Ashley Hall from The State